Pursuit driver in serious crash

Pursuit driver in serious crash - The West Australian

The driver of this car is in hospital after the car he was driving crashed into a tree on Beach Road, Mirrabooka, and rolled. Picture: Lincoln Baker/The West Australian

A car involved in a police pursuit early this morning crashed into a tree in Mirrabooka, rolled over and the trapped driver had to be freed by emergency services.

The driver of the green Holden Commodore station wagon refused to stop for police about 1.50am and the officers lost sight of the car within "a minute or two" as the driver sped away.

The officers came across the car a short time later crashed on Beach Road, between Honeywell Boulevard and Alexander Drive, in Mirrabooka.

Major crash Sen. Const Allan Mawdesley said police estimated the driver, who did not have a licence, was travelling about double the 70km/h limit before he crashed into a tree.

"Wet roads, poor visibility conditions with the fog this morning, the driver would appear to have lost control," he said.

"He's gone into a sideways slide, turned about 90 degrees and gone backwards into a tree, which has caused him to suffer some serious injuries.

"It's a big impact, going backwards, a rear wheel was embedded (in the car) where the rear passenger seat would have been."

Sen Const Mawdesley believed the 23-year-old driver, who has a lacerated liver and fractured leg, was lucky to be alive.

"If he'd had another person in the vehicle, that person would not have survived," he believed.

The officers stopped to help the 23-year-old driver, who was trapped in the wreckage, until paramedics and fire crews arrived.

His injuries were initially thought to be life-threatening but doctors at Royal Perth Hospital have told police his injuries were serious but he was in a stable condition.

Police do not believe the car was stolen but that the man had borrowed it from a friend. Some items have been seized from the car but police would not say what those were and said they were still investigating who owned them.

It is believed the incident was sparked by a random vehicle stop.

"At 2am in the morning any vehicle is worth police having a look at... to interview the driver, see what they're doing in the area, see if they do have a driver's licence," Sen. Const. Mawdesley explained.

The 23-year-old is not yet well enough to be interviewed about the incident.

A police spokesman said due to the nature of the incident, Internal Affairs Unit detectives would investigate the circumstances surrounding the initial attempt to stop the vehicle."

Commodore crash: Police say the driver failed to stop for officers before he crashed on Beach Road, Mirrabooka. Picture: Lincoln Baker/The West Australian

Anyone with information regarding this crash, or who saw the vehicle involved prior to the crash is asked to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Beach Road is closed in both directions between Honeywell Boulevard and Alexander Drive.